The Gayatri mantra

2 aspects of Brahmana-diksha in Kali Yuga The Vedic diksa (upanayana): by brahma-gayatri. The Vaisnava pancaratrika-diksa by three pancaratrika-mantras (mula-mantras) and three pancaratrika-gayatris.

Gayatri Mantra Srila Prabhupada’s translation of the Sanskrit of the Brahma gayatri is: “Let us meditate on that worshipable effulgence of the divine sun who enthuses our meditation.”

Gayatri Mantra – Etymological meaning Gayatri trayate yasmad gayatri tvam tatah smritah One who chants the gayatri-mantras is gradually delivered from the material clutches. In other words, that which delivers us from material entanglement is called gayatri. Gaya – singing; tra - deliver

Structure of brahma-gayatri om, the bija (seed syllable) The maha-vyahrtis (bhuh bhuvah and svah), The gayatri itself The word dhimahi (meditation or to invoke the form and activities of the Supreme Lord) is standard in all gayatris.

Structure of Pancharatrika mantras and gayatris The bija (seed syllable): aim or klim The namatmaka – the nama as the central pivot of the mantra Svaha or namah indicating obeisances The word dhimahi indicating meditation

Why is Pancharatra diksha needed? 1. No one qualified in Kali yuga Skanda Purana: kalau-sudra-sambhavah. 2. So Pancharatra system adopted pancaratrasya krtsnasya vakta tu bhagavan svayam (Mahabharata; Paramatma Sandarbha, annucheda 18)

Meaning of Pancharatra ratran ca jnanavacanam jnanam pancavidham smrtam tenedam pancaratram ca pravadanti manisinah Panca means five. Ratra means jnana or knowledge. According to authorities there are five kinds of knowledge; 1) vedic, 2) yogic, 3) mayik, 4) mukti, and 5) bhakti, the knowledge by which one attains to the loving devotional service of the Sri Sri Radha Krsna. (Narada Pancaratra 1.2.44 and Gaudiya Kanthahara 2.44)

Pancha-samskara within Pancharatra tapah pundram tatha nama mantro yagas ca pancamah ami hi panca-samskarah paramaikanti-hetavah Tapah, pundra, nama, mantra, and yaga; these five items comprise panca-samskara. They are the cause of intense devotion to Lord Hari.

Pancha-samskara Tapah: performing austerities and accepting oneself as Krishna’s servant Pundra: applying tilaka symbolizing the body as the temple of Hari. Nama: receiving the holy name from guru Mantra: receiving various gayatri mantras Yaja: engaging in Deity worship

Bhagavata vidhi Focus on hearing and chanting Both upanayana and pancharatra diksha are aids to Bhagavata vidhi

Sacred Thread (Yajnopavita) nine threads of yajnopavita symbolize the nine practices of suddha-bhakti (pure devotional service): sravanam, kirtanam, smaranam, pada-sevanam, arcanam, vandanam, dasyam, sakhyam, and atmanivedanam

Relationship bet brahma-gayatri & mahamantra Mahamantra – from ignorance to prema Brahma Gayatri: From goodness to liberation